CBS is looking to capitalize on the heat of the “Carpool Karaoke” segment of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” by shopping a weekly series based on the concept. Corden and “Late Late Show” exec producer Ben Winston would serve as exec producers but Corden would not host. CBS’ chief content licensing officer Scott Koondel has set up a pitch blitz with Winston that began last week, hitting the major cablers and SVOD players including the fledgling YouTube Red.
An SVOD sale could be a natural fit for the show given that “Carpool Karaoke” has taken off as a viral-video vehicle. The simple premise involves Corden driving around Los Angeles with a celebrity guest while they belt out classic and contemporary tunes. The segment hit new heights in January with a guest shot by Adele. The segment busted YouTube viewing records, racking up 84.2 million views and counting.
The weekly half-hour version would also feature celebrity guests. CBS has yet to attach a host so as to allow the commissioning network to have a say in setting a personality that fits its profile.
The deal for the show could be unusual as CBS is considering options for shared windows between cable and SVOD players or a possible carve-out for first-run syndication. CBS TV Studios, which produces “Late Late Show” and is behind the “Carpool Karaoke” push, declined comment. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news of the show being shopped.
CBS’ effort to franchise “Carpool Karaoke” echoes the move by “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon to expand on his “Lip Sync Battle” segment. The show became an instant hit for Spike TV last year and has since spawned “Lip Sync Battle Jr.”
